VAUGHAN, ONTARIO — September 27th, 2016 — Sunview Patio Doors Ltd.
In addition to being a pioneer and undisputed leader in the plastics extrusion industry, Sunview’s chairman and founder, Vic De Zen also has a long history of community involvement and philanthropy. Supporting local causes in his hometown of Woodbridge, Ontario and its surrounding region, Mr. De Zen recently donated $10-million to help build a new and much-needed 350-bed hospital in Vaughan.
According to Ingrid Perry, the chief executive officer of the Mackenzie Health Foundation, “The Ontario government has not disclosed the construction cost for the new hospital yet, but will pay the lion’s share of the cost while requiring the community to raise $250-million toward the total. The foundation hopes this exciting announcement and the launch of construction on the building will spur more donations.
The hospital’s lobby will be named the Vic De Zen Family Welcome Centre in honour of the donation,” said Ingrid Perry, which is the fundraising body for the new hospital. Mr. De Zen’s legacy contribution is the largest single donation. His generosity will help build the first new hospital in the area in more than 50 years. The opening of the new facility is scheduled for 2020.
After leaving Royal Group, Mr. De Zen founded ZZen Group, which includes a large real-estate division that owns industrial, warehouse and commercial space. “Sunview Patio Doors is part of the Vision Group and we’re scheduled to open our 11th manufacturing plant in January – a 340,000-square-foot extrusion facility. It’s expected to help quickly boost total annual sales to $600-million from our current $500-million” said Mr. De Zen
Mr. De Zen has always been an inspiration, especially to his surrounding community. He also sees the growing need for local hospital services given the rapid population growth in Vaughan. In addition to his legacy gift, Mr. De Zen has also donated close to $1-million to the existing Mackenzie Richmond Hill Hospital throughout the years, .
“These are major fundraising appeals and until the project starts construction, communities often wait to see that,” Ms. Perry said. “So Mr. De Zen’s gift is truly inspirational for us, but it also challenges the rest of the community to step up.”
